Bucket arrangements for power loaders



March 5, 1957 R. L. BEYERSTEDT 2,733,903

BUCKET ARRANGEMENTS FOR POWER LOADERS Filed Sept. 15, 1954 INVEN TOR.RALPH L. BEYERSTEDT ATTORNEY tes BUCKET ARRANGER ENTS FOR POWER LOADERSRalph L. Beyerstedt, Libertyville, 11L, assignor to The Frank G. Hough(10., a corporation of Illinois Appiication September 15, 1954, SerialNo. 456,155-

6 Claims. (Cl. 214-140) 'Recent developments in the art have providedlinkage and boom means which will permit a rearward tilt or breakout ofthe bucket to full load retention position at ground level. However,buckets as generally known in the art do not perform efliciently withsuch developments. Among other things, it is necessary and desirablethat the bucket be sufl'iciently reinforced, that'some portion of thebucket act as a fulcrum for the leverage effect achieved with abrealoout design, that some portion of the bottom of the bucket act as askid shoe whenthebucket is moved along the ground in the carryingposition, and that any hinges or hinge connections at the bottom of thebucket be adequately protected against damage when the bucket is tiltedor skidded. Therefore, it is the object of this invention to provide abucket construction .in a power loader which will fulfill all of thestated necessary and desirable requirements for a simple and eflicientbucket. I

Other objects and the features of the present invention will be apparentupon a perusal of the following specification and drawing of which:

Figure 1 shows a side plan view of a representative loader provided withthe novel bucket construction of the invention;

' Figure 2 is a. rear plan view of the bucket onlyof the structure shownin Figure l; and

I Figure 3 is a side plan view of the bucket shown in Figure 2.

The present embodiment is the preferred embodiment but it is to beunderstood that changes can be made in the present embodiment by oneskilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of thisinvention.

For a detailed description of the present invention reference is made tothe drawing. The loader of the. present invention comprises a vehicle ofany type well known in the art. A boom 11 is also provided, and ispivotally mounted at one end thereof to the vehicle10 by means ofmounting means 12. The other end of the boom 11 extends forwardly of thevehicle 10. The boom 11 is formed in duplicate portions positioned oneach side of the vehicle it). A hydraulic ram 16 is provided induplicate portions disposed on each side of the vehicle it) for raisingand lowering ofvthe boom. The head end of the hydraulic ram 16 ispivotally mounted .tothe vehicle 10 by means of mounting means 17. The.rod end, of the hydraulic ram 16 is pivotally mounted'to atent O2,783,903 Patented Mar. 5, 1957 the boom 11 intermediate the endsthereof by means of abracket 18 andpivotable mounting means 19. Link agemeans are also provided in duplicate portions disposed on each side ofthe vehicle 10 and comprise a hydraulic ram 13 and a link 14. The headend of the hydraulic ram 13 is pivotally mounted to the vehicle 10 bymeans of mounting means 15. The rod end of the hydraulic ram 13 isrigidly secured to one end of the link 14 which is positioned to extendforwardly of the vehicle 10. Suitable hydraulic fluid conduits, pumps,and control means (not shown) of any type well known in the art areprovidedfor the operation of the hydraulic rams 13 and 16.

To the forward end of, the link 14v and the boom 11, the bucket 20 ismounted. The bucket 20 comprisesa substantially U-shaped scoop element21 of a conventional bucket configuration. A pair of side walls 22 aresecured one at each end of the U-shaped scoop element 21. The side walls22 are formed to have a general configuration as shown in the drawingswherein substantial portions of the side walls, 22 extend rearwardly ofthe scoop element 21 so as to form a pair of spaced apart rearwardlyextending flanges having protruding curved sections along a lineextending through the deepest portion of the scoop element 21 andgenerally bisecting the scoop element 21. The rearwardly extendingflanges are also providedwith a flat or straight section which generallylies in ,a horizontal plane when the bucket 20 is tipped backapproximately. as shown in Figure l. The amount of tip back of thebucket as shown in Figure 1 is generally that amount of tipback whichhas been found in the art to be the optimum degree of tip back forproper carrying of 'a filled bucket, approximately 35 degrees from thehorizontal. It canthus beseen that since the flat or straight section issubstantially horizontal when the bucket is tipped back approximately 35degrees, the lower marginal edge of the side walls 22 are disposed at anangle of approximately degrees to the flat or straight section of therearwardly extending flanges.

The forward marginal edges of each of the side walls 22 are providedwith reinforcing members 23, and the lower forward marginal edges of theside walls 22 and the forward marginal edge of the lower leg of thescoop element 21, are provided with a cutting edge 24. The upper portionof the bucketZi) is reinforced by an L-shaped channel member 25 which issecured between the side walls 22 and the rear face of the scoop element21 substantially at the upper marginal edges thereof. To aid inreinforcing the bucket 20, and to provide some of the means forpivotally mounting the bucket 20 to the boom 11 and the link 14, a pairof flanges 26 are provided. To additionally reinforce the bucket 20 andto provide the remainder of the means for pivotally mounting the end ofthe link 14 to the bucket 20, a second pair of flanges 27 are provided.The remaining means for pivotally mounting the end of the boom 11 to thebucket 20 are a third pair of flanges 28. The flanges 26, 27 and 28 aresecured to the rear face of the scoop 21 of the bucket 20 and aredimensioned to extend from the rearward face of the scoop 21 a distanceequal to or less than the distance that the rearwardly extending flangeportions of the side walls 22 extend. The forward end of each portion ofthe link 24 is pivotally mounted between one of the flanges 26intermediate the ends thereof and one of the flanges 27 substantially atthe upper end thereof by means of mounting means 41. The forward end ofeach portion of the boom 11 is pivotally mounted between the lower endof one of the flanges 26 and the lower end or one of the flanges 28 bymeans of mounting means 40.

The bucket 20 is also provided with a plate 42, a plate 43, and a pairof plates 44. Plates 42, 43 and 44 are each formed with part of theperiphery thereof 3 V shaped substantially identically to the shape ofthe protruding curved sections and the adjacent straight sections of theside walls 22. The plates 42, 43 and 44 are mounted to the rear face ofthe scoop element 21 with identically shaped surfaces in registry withthe sidewalls 22, and with plate 42 positioned adjacent one of theflanges 27, plate 43 positioned adjacent the other flange 27, and withpairs of plates 44 positioned betweenflanges 28. The bucket 20 isfurther defined by three curved plates 29, 30 and 31. The curved plates;29, 30 and 31 are formed to have a curvaturesubstantially identicaltothe shape of the protruding curved section of each of the side walls22 and the substantially straight section adjacent thereto,.and theplates 42, 43 ZltldAfd. Ihe curved plate 29 is secured to the marginaledges of the protruding curved section and the straight section adjacentthereto of one of theside walls 22 and plate 42. The curved plate 30 issecured to the marginal edges of the pair of plates 44. The curved plate31 is secured in a similar manner as curved plate 29 to the other side"wall 22 and the plate 43. Three rectangular plates32, 33 and 34 arealso provided. The plate 32 is secured to the upper marginal edges ofthe curved plate 29, the 'plate 42, and to the rear face of the scoop 21and one 'of the side walls 22.' Plate 33 is secured to the uppermarginal edges of the curved plate 30, the pair of plates'44, and to therear face of the scoop 21. Plate 34' is secured to the upper marginaledges of the curved J plate 31, the plate 43, and to the rear face ofthe scoop 21 and the other side wall 22. In order to provide bearing.and wearing surfaces for the curved plates 29, and 31, three skid shoes35, 36 and 37 are provided. The skidshoes 35, 36 and 37 are curved tohave substantially the Same curvature as the surfaces of the plates 29,30 and 31 and are secured to the surfaces of these plates respectively.The skid shoes 35, 36 and 37 may be 'removably secured to the plates 2?,3i? and 31 in order that they may be replaced when worn.

Turning next to a description of the operation of the instant'invention,the bucket 28 may be positioned as shown in Figure 3 by an extension ofthe hydraulic ram '13. This is the well known dig position, and when thevehicle 10 is moved forwardly, the cutting edge 24 will bite into thematerial to be dug to fill the bucket 20. It should be noted that duringthis operation, the bucket 20 is resting on the ground. If the hydraulicram 13 is then retracted, the loaded bucket 20 will pivot in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in 'Figure- 1 about pivotalmounting means 46. It can thus be seen that the skidshoes 35, 36 and 37will act as wide fulcrums, transversely of the bucket 29, for thetilting of the bucket 20. The load of the bucket will not be transferredto the boom .11, but will be transferred to the ground over the width ofthe skid shoes 35, 36 and 37. When the hydraulic ram 13 is stopped atthe point wherein the bucket will assume the position shown in Figure l,the full load retention position, the skid shoes 35. 3,6 and 37 willdistribute the load of the bucket over a wide area to support the bucketon any relatively soft material over which the vehicle It) is moved.With a substantial amount of the weight of the bucket removed from theboom 11 and the linkage means, a relatively heavy load may be moved overthe ground.

As is known in the art, oftentimesin the operation of a conventionalloader, the cutting edge when disposed within a heavy material, willnot, due to the excessively large moment of force, permit an immediatetip back of the bucket. However, it has been found that with thefulcrurning effect of the present invention, a conventional loaderprovided with bucket 28 maybe easily tipped back or pried out of theheavy material.

Since the pivotal mounting means it? and 41, and the flanges 26, 27, and28, for mounting of the boom 11 and the link 3 4 to the bucket 20 areprojected, alocked up condition wherein the flanges and pivotal mountingmeans are projected into the ground, is avoided.

Further, the reinforcing eifect of the various described elements of thesubject bucket, is substantial, and twisting and distorting of thebucket is held to a minimum.

Although the present embodiment discloses a construction providing threeseparate skid shoe sections, different bucket usages may permit, ordifferent loader constructions may necessitate, a change in the numberof skid shoe sections required. If the boom and link connec tions aresubstantially at the outer edges of the bucket, one center skid shoesection may suflice. If the boom and link connections are substantiallyat the center of the bucket, the outer pair of skid shoe sections maysuffice.

Having described the invention what is considered new and desired to beprotected by Letters Patent is:

1. In a loader, a bucket comprising a scoop element, boom andlinkagepivotal"mounting means formedon the rear face of said scoopelement, a skid shoe section mounted on the rear face of said scoopelement and formed to project rearwardly of said boom and linkagepivotal mounting means, said skid shoe section formed to provide afulcrum line at ground level when said bucket is pivoted about said boompivotal mounting means, said skid shoe section further formed to providea relatively flat surface for the skidding of said bucket when saidbucket is pivoted to a full load retention position at ground level.

2. In a loader, a bucket comprising a scoop element, boom and linkagepivotal mounting means formed on the rear face of said scoop element, aplurality of skid shoe sections mounted on the rear face of said scoopelement, each of said plurality of skid shoe sections comprising a pairof spaced apart rearwardly projecting flange portions, a plurality ofcurved plates, each of said curved plates secured to one of said pair offlange portions, a plurality of curved skid shoes, each of said curvedskid shoes secured to the surface of one of eaid curved plates, each ofsaid pair of rearwardly extending projecting flange portions formed toposition each of said skid shoes rearwardly of said boom and linkagepivotal mounting means, said curved plates and said skid 'sho es havingcurvatures providing a fulcrum line at ground levelwhen said bucket ispivoted about said boom pivotal mounting means and a relatively flatsurface for the skidding of said bucket when said bucket is pivoted to afull load retention position at ground level.

3. In a loader, a bucket comprising a U-shaped scoop element, a pair ofside walls secured to said U-shaped scoop element and formed to extendrearwardly of said scoop element, boom and linkage pivotal mountingmeans formed on the rear face of said scoop element, a pair of skid shoesections mounted on the rear face of said scoop element and includingthe portions of each of said side walls formed to extend rearwardly ofsaid scoop element, said pair of skid shoe sections formed to projectrearwardly of said boom and linkage pivotal mounting means, said pair ofskid shoe sections further formed to provide a fulcrum line at groundlevel when said bucket is pivoted about said boom pivotal mountingmeans, said pair of skid shoe sections further formed to provide arelatively flat surface for the skidding of said bucket when said bucketis pivoted to full load retention position at ground level.

4. In a loader, a bucket comprising a substantially U-shaped scoopelement having a pair of side walls secured thereto, each of said pairof side walls having a portion extending rearwardly of said scoopelement, each of said portions formed to have a straight sectiondisposed at an angle to the lower marginal edge of said bucket, aplurality of flanges secured to the rear face of said scoop element in aspaced apart relationship to each other and said portions of said sidewalls, each of said flanges having straight sections in registry withsaid straight sections of said portions of said side walls, a pluralityof curved plates secured to the outer marginal edges of said flanges andsaid portions or said side walls, a plurality of skid shoes mounted tothe surfaces of said plates, boom and linkage pivotal mounting meansformed on the rear face of said scoop element between said plates, saidplurality of flanges and said portions of said side walls formed toproject said curved skid shoes rearwardly of said boom and linkagepivotal mounting means, said plurality of plates and said skid shoeformed to provide a fulcrum line at ground level between said lowermarginal edge of said bucket and said straight sections when said bucketis pivoted about said boom pivotal mounting means, the portions of saidplurality of curved plates and said skid shoes adjacent said straightsections formed to provide a relatively flat surface for skidding ofsaid bucket when said bucket is pivoted to full load retention positionat ground level.

5. In a loader, a boom, linkage means, said boom and linkage meanspivotally mountable at one end thereof on said loader, the other ends ofsaid boom and linkage means projecting forwardly of said loader, abucket comprising a scoop element, boom and linkage pivotal mountingmeans formed on the rear face of said scoop element, means pivotallymounting said other end-s of said boom and linkage means to said boomand linkage pivotal mounting means, said linkage means operable to pivotsaid bucket rearwardly at ground level to a full load retentionposition, a skid shoe section mounted on the rear face of said scoopelement and formed to project rearwardly of said boom and linkagepivotal mounting means, said skid shoe section formed to provide afulcrum line at ground level when said bucket is pivoted rearwardlyabout said boom pivotal mounting means, said skid shoe section furtherformed to provide a relatively flat surface for the skidding of saidbucket when said bucket is pivoted to a full load retention at groundlevel.

6. In a loader, a boom, linkage means, said boom and linkage meanspivotally mountable at one end thereof on said loader, the other ends ofsaid boom and linkage means projecting forwardly of said loader, abucket comprising a substantially U-shaped scoop element having a pairof side walls secured thereto, each of said pair of side walls having aportion extending rearwardly of said scoop element, each of saidportions formed to have a straight section disposed at an angle to thelower marginal edge of said bucket, a plurality of flanges secured tothe rear face of said scoop element in a spaced apart relationship toeach other and said portions of said side walls, each of said flangeshaving straight sections in registry with said straight sections of saidportions of said side walls, a plurality of curved plates secured to theouter marginal edges of said flanges and said portions of said sidewalls, a plurality of skid shoes mounted to the surfaces of said plates,boom and linkage pivotal mounting means formed on the rear face of saidscoop element between said plates, means pivotally mounting said otherends of said boom and linkage means to said boom and linkage pivotalmounting means, said linkage means operable to pivot said bucketrearwardly at ground level to a full load retention position, saidplurality of flanges and said portions of said side walls formed toproject said curved skid shoes rearwardly of said boom and linkagepivotal mounting means, said plurality of plates and said skid shoesformed to provide a fulcrum line at ground level between said lowermarginal edge of said bucket and said straight sections when said bucketis pivoted about said boom pivotal mounting means, the portions of saidplurality of curved plates and said skid shoes adjacent said straightsections formed to provide a relatively flat surface for skidding ofsaid bucket when said bucket is pivoted to a full load retentionposition at ground level.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

